By 2050, there could be more plastic

than fish in our oceans

The Problem

Plastics play an important role world-wide as a light-weight and inexpensive packaging method. Right now, about 225 million tons of plastic are produced each year – and the production is soaring.

For this reason, one of the biggest environmental problems of our time is on the rise: 10% of the world’s plastic packaging is now ending up as waste in our oceans. Fact: 350 tons of plastic now endanger the earth’s ecosystem and, therefore, all life on our planet every single day!

GLOBAL “GARBAGE PATCHES“

How does all of this plastic end up in the ocean? It is drifting into the sea from beaches and coastlines, through countless rivers emptying into the sea and thousands of ships crossing the oceans. Strong currents then carry the plastic to five main areas, accumulating them in gigantic, floating “garbage patches.”

Currents drag plastic particles up to 30 meters under the ocean’s surface where they can float for hundreds of years — because 90% of the presently produced plastics are not naturally degradable.

NORTH PACIFIC GARBAGE PATCH

The biggest of the known plastic garbage patches is presently located in the northern Pacific Ocean. The so-called “North Pacific Garbage Patch” comprises a zone that is comparable in size to Central Europe. This accumulation of plastic waste covers an area of approximately 2.400 x 800 kilometers and weighs close to 100 million tons!

And this situation is getting worse by the day!

DEGRADABILITY OF PLASTIC WASTE

Based on mineral oil, plastic offers a very long life period. The rate of decomposition or extraction of the different ingredients used to make plastic depends on the composition of the plastic material and the environmental conditions. Plastic bags, for example do have a normal life period of up to 20 years, but their “lifetime” is much more when they are floating in ocean water. Compare that “lifetime” to a paper bag, which biodegrades within a couple of weeks. Even more damaging to the environment are plastic bottles and ‘’six-pack” plastic rings. Current research indicates that it could take between 400-450 years for each of those common plastic articles to degrade.

INFLUENCE ON HUMANS, ANIMALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The negative effect of the already-massive pollution of the oceans is not only on the earth’s ecosystem. In the long term, it will significantly impact humans and animals. Over time, the plastic pieces crumble into very small particles, from the destabilizing impact of saltwater, erosion and solar radiation.

Fish then ingest the plastic as they eat. Two-thirds of sea creatures are presently endangered by plastic pollution, which eventually impacts humans – at the end of the food chain. The impact on humans is already beginning, as cancer is increasing and human DNA is drastically changing.